Anyone Who Bought a Mac mini Last Year May Be Jealous of the Display Upgrade Apple Just Gave Its Newest $899 Desktop

Apple’s new M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini models, announced Tuesday, raise the ceiling on external display refresh rates, with 4K screens now able to run at up to 165Hz, up from 144Hz on the previous M4 generation.

Both new configurations continue to support up to three external monitors, but the display specifications differ between models based on their chips and port capabilities.

The base M6 model can drive two displays at 4K 165Hz or 6K 60Hz, with a third screen reaching up to 5K 60Hz over Thunderbolt or 4K 60Hz over HDMI.

The M5 Pro model goes further, allowing all three connected displays to run simultaneously at 4K 165Hz or 6K 60Hz.

M5 Pro gains a two-display speed boost

In a two-monitor setup, the M5 Pro delivers a more noticeable jump. Its second display can now reach 5K at 120Hz or 4K at 200Hz, whereas the previous M4 Pro topped out at 6K at 60Hz or 4K at 144Hz on that same output.

That makes the M5 Pro a more capable option for users running high-refresh gaming monitors or video editing displays alongside a primary screen.

Single-display performance remains unchanged from last generation: both chips support up to 8K 60Hz, 5K 120Hz, or 4K 240Hz on a lone connected monitor.

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Port differences between the two models

There is a meaningful difference in port technology between the two. The M6 model ships with Thunderbolt 4, which supports DisplayPort 1.4, while the M5 Pro steps up to Thunderbolt 5, which supports DisplayPort 2.1.

That gap in display bandwidth explains why the M5 Pro can drive all three monitors via a single Thunderbolt port, whereas the M6 is limited to two displays per port.

For users considering high-refresh external monitors, particularly those already running 144Hz panels and seeking headroom for future upgrades, the M5 Pro’s Thunderbolt 5 ports offer greater flexibility.

The M6 remains capable for most professional workloads but trades some display bandwidth for a lower entry price.

Pre-orders for both models are open now. Units are scheduled to ship and appear in Apple retail stores on September 22.